Patentable/Patents/US-8471854
US-8471854

Geospatial modeling system providing user-selectable building shape options and related methods

PublishedJune 25, 2013
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A geospatial modeling system may include a geospatial model data storage device, a user input device, and a display. A processor may be included for cooperating with the geospatial model data storage device, the user input device and the display for displaying a geospatial model data set on the display including at least one group of building data points, and displaying a plurality of user-selectable different building shapes on the display based upon the at least one group of building data points. The plurality of user-selectable different building shapes may have different respective feature detail levels. The processor may further replace the at least one group of building data points with a given one of the user-selectable different building shapes based upon user selection thereof with the user input device.

Patent Claims
24 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A geospatial modeling system comprising: a geospatial model data storage device; a user input device; a display; and a processor cooperating with said geospatial model data storage device, said user input device and said display and configured to display a geospatial model data set on said display including at least one group of building data points, display a plurality of user-selectable different building shapes on said display based upon the at least one group of building data points, the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes having different respective feature detail levels, and each feature detail level having a different respective error value associated therewith, and replace the at least one group of building data points with a given one of the user-selectable different building shapes based upon user selection thereof with said user input device.

Plain English Translation

A geospatial modeling system includes a data storage for geospatial models, a user input device (like a mouse), and a display. A processor displays a geospatial model dataset, including building data points. It also shows multiple selectable building shapes based on these points, each shape having a different level of detail (e.g., simple box to detailed model). Each detail level has an associated error value. The system replaces the original building data points with the user's chosen building shape based on input from the user input device.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The geospatial modeling system of claim 1 wherein said processor is further configured to update the geospatial model data based upon the user selection of the given one of the user-selectable different building shapes.

Plain English Translation

The geospatial modeling system described above (displaying building data, selectable shapes with different detail levels and error values, and replacement via user input) also updates the underlying geospatial model data to reflect the user's selected building shape, permanently changing the model.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The geospatial modeling system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes comprises a generally rectangular building box as a lowest feature detail level.

Plain English Translation

In the geospatial modeling system described above (displaying building data, selectable shapes with different detail levels and error values, and replacement via user input), one of the simplest building shape options offered to the user is a basic rectangular box, representing the lowest level of detail.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The geospatial modeling system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes comprises a match of the at least one group of building data points as a highest feature detail level.

Plain English Translation

In the geospatial modeling system described above (displaying building data, selectable shapes with different detail levels and error values, and replacement via user input), one of the building shape options is a direct match of the original building data points. This represents the highest level of detail, accurately reflecting the initial data.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The geospatial modeling system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes further comprises a generally rectangular building box as a lowest feature detail level, and a plurality of user-selectable building shapes having respective different intermediate feature detail levels between the lowest and highest feature detail levels.

Plain English Translation

The geospatial modeling system that offers a direct match as the highest detail level (accurate reflection of initial data) also includes a basic rectangular box shape as the lowest detail level. It further contains several other building shapes with varying levels of detail that fall between the basic box and the exact match, providing a range of choices.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The geospatial modeling system of claim 1 wherein said processor is further configured to select for displaying the at least one group of building points from among a plurality of groups thereof based upon error calculations.

Plain English Translation

In the geospatial modeling system described above (displaying building data, selectable shapes with different detail levels and error values, and replacement via user input), the processor selects which building data points to display from multiple available sets based on error calculations. Only building point groups meeting certain quality thresholds based on these calculations are shown to the user.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The geospatial modeling system of claim 6 wherein the error calculations comprise at least one root mean square error (RMSE) calculation.

Plain English Translation

In the geospatial modeling system that selects building points based on error calculations, the error calculations include at least one Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) calculation to quantify the difference between building data points and potential shapes.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The geospatial modeling system of claim 6 wherein the error calculations comprise at least two-dimensional error calculation.

Plain English Translation

In the geospatial modeling system that selects building points based on error calculations, the error calculations include at least two-dimensional error calculation, meaning error calculation is done considering x and y coordinates.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The geospatial modeling system of claim 6 wherein the error calculations comprise at least three-dimensional error calculation.

Plain English Translation

In the geospatial modeling system that selects building points based on error calculations, the error calculations include at least three-dimensional error calculation, meaning error calculation is done considering x, y, and z coordinates.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. A geospatial modeling system comprising: a geospatial model data storage device; a user input device; a display; and a processor cooperating with said geospatial model data storage device, said user input device and said display and configured to display a geospatial model data set on said display including at least one group of building data points, display a plurality of user-selectable different building shapes on said display based upon the at least one group of building data points, the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes comprising a match of the at least one group of building data points as a highest feature detail level, a generally rectangular building box as a lowest feature detail level, and a plurality of user-selectable building shapes having respective different intermediate feature detail levels between the lowest and highest feature detail levels, and each feature detail level having a different respective error value associated therewith, replace the at least one group of building data points with a given one of the user-selectable different building shapes based upon user selection thereof with said user input device, and update the geospatial model data based upon the user selection of the given one of the user-selectable different building shapes.

Plain English Translation

A geospatial modeling system includes a data storage, user input, and display. A processor displays a geospatial model dataset including building data points. It shows multiple selectable building shapes based on these points: a direct match of the building data (highest detail), a rectangular box (lowest detail), and intermediate shapes. Each shape has a detail level and error value. The system replaces the building data with the user's chosen shape and updates the geospatial model data accordingly, permanently saving user modifications.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The geospatial modeling system of claim 10 wherein said processor is further configured to select for displaying the at least one group of building points from among a plurality of groups thereof based upon error calculations.

Plain English Translation

The geospatial modeling system described above (with selectable shapes, detail levels, replacement, and data updating) also selects which building point groups to display based on error calculations from among many groups.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The geospatial modeling system of claim 11 wherein the error calculations comprise at least one root mean square error (RMSE) calculation.

Plain English Translation

In the geospatial modeling system that selects building points based on error calculations, the error calculations include at least one Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) calculation to quantify the difference between building data points and potential shapes.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. A geospatial modeling method comprising: using a processor to display a geospatial model data set on a display including at least one group of building data points; using a processor to display a plurality of user-selectable different building shapes on the display based upon the at least one group of building data points, the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes having different respective feature detail levels, and each feature detail level having a different respective error value associated therewith; and using a processor to replace the at least one group of building data points with a given one of the user-selectable different building shapes based upon user selection thereof with a user input device.

Plain English Translation

A geospatial modeling method involves displaying a geospatial model dataset, including building data points. The method displays multiple selectable building shapes based on these points, each with a different detail level and associated error value. The method replaces the original building data points with a user-selected building shape via a user input device. All the displaying and replacing steps are performed using a processor.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The geospatial modeling method of claim 13 further comprising using the processor to update the geospatial model data based upon the user selection of the given one of the user-selectable different building shapes.

Plain English Translation

The geospatial modeling method above (displaying shapes, detail levels, and replacement) also updates the underlying geospatial model data based on the user-selected building shape, permanently saving user modifications with the processor.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The geospatial modeling method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes comprises a generally rectangular building box as a lowest feature detail level.

Plain English Translation

In the geospatial modeling method above (displaying shapes, detail levels, and replacement), one of the simplest building shape options is a basic rectangular box, representing the lowest level of detail.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The geospatial modeling method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes comprises a match of the at least one group of building data points as a highest feature detail level.

Plain English Translation

In the geospatial modeling method above (displaying shapes, detail levels, and replacement), one of the building shape options is a direct match of the original building data points. This represents the highest level of detail, accurately reflecting the initial data.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The geospatial modeling method of claim 16 wherein the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes further comprises a generally rectangular building box as a lowest feature detail level, and a plurality of user-selectable building shapes having respective different intermediate feature detail levels between the lowest and highest feature detail levels.

Plain English Translation

The geospatial modeling method that offers a direct match as the highest detail level (accurate reflection of initial data) also includes a basic rectangular box shape as the lowest detail level. It further contains several other building shapes with varying levels of detail that fall between the basic box and the exact match, providing a range of choices.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. The geospatial modeling method of claim 13 further comprising using the processor to select the at least one group of building points for displaying from among a plurality of groups thereof based upon error calculations.

Plain English Translation

The geospatial modeling method above (displaying shapes, detail levels, and replacement) also selects which building data points to display from multiple available sets based on error calculations. Only building point groups meeting certain quality thresholds based on these calculations are shown to the user. All the selection step is performed using a processor.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising: displaying a geospatial model data set on a display including at least one group of building data points; displaying a plurality of user-selectable different building shapes on the display based upon the at least one group of building data points, the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes having different respective feature detail levels, and each feature detail level having a different respective error value associated therewith; and replacing the at least one group of building data points with a given one of the user-selectable different building shapes based upon user selection thereof with a user input device.

Plain English Translation

A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to display a geospatial model dataset, including building data points. The instructions also cause the computer to display multiple selectable building shapes with different detail levels and associated error values. Finally, the instructions cause the computer to replace the original building data points with a user-selected building shape.

Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 further having computer-executable instructions for causing the computer to perform a step of updating the geospatial model data based upon the user selection of the given one of the user-selectable different building shapes.

Plain English Translation

The computer-readable medium described above (displaying shapes, detail levels, and replacement) also contains instructions to update the geospatial model data based on the user's selected building shape, permanently saving user modifications.

Claim 21

Original Legal Text

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes comprises a generally rectangular building box as a lowest feature detail level.

Plain English Translation

In the computer-readable medium described above (displaying shapes, detail levels, and replacement), one of the simplest building shape options is a basic rectangular box, representing the lowest level of detail.

Claim 22

Original Legal Text

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes comprises a match of the at least one group of building data points as a highest feature detail level.

Plain English Translation

In the computer-readable medium described above (displaying shapes, detail levels, and replacement), one of the building shape options is a direct match of the original building data points. This represents the highest level of detail, accurately reflecting the initial data.

Claim 23

Original Legal Text

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the plurality of user-selectable different building shapes further comprises a generally rectangular building box as a lowest feature detail level, and a plurality of user-selectable building shapes having respective different intermediate feature detail levels between the lowest and highest feature detail levels.

Plain English Translation

The computer-readable medium that offers a direct match as the highest detail level (accurate reflection of initial data) also includes a basic rectangular box shape as the lowest detail level. It further contains several other building shapes with varying levels of detail that fall between the basic box and the exact match, providing a range of choices.

Claim 24

Original Legal Text

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 further having computer-executable instructions for causing the computer to perform a step of selecting the at least one group of building points for displaying from among a plurality of groups thereof based upon error calculations.

Plain English Translation

The computer-readable medium described above (displaying shapes, detail levels, and replacement) also contains instructions to select which building data points to display from multiple available sets based on error calculations. Only building point groups meeting certain quality thresholds based on these calculations are shown to the user.

Classification Codes (CPC)

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

September 28, 2007

Publication Date

June 25, 2013

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